Customer Reviews

14 Shades of Grey

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow! This cd is definitely the best Staind album out yet. I waited a while to get this album because I wasn't sure I would like it very much. A lot of people complained that it was too soft and boring. I took my chances anyway because I liked their other two albums(Dysfunction, Break the Cycle) a lot. Every song on this cd is simply remarkable and I just can't get enough of it. The band really does a good job of showing how they feel and that is a good way to get to know a band. Some of my favorite songs on this cd are "Price To Play", "So Far Away", and "Fray". I can't believe that they could put such a good album together. It will always be one of my favorite rock cd's I'll ever own. Go buy it.

Personally I think this album is a major success and barely surpasses break the cycle. So what if it's not as hard, or the tunes aren't as catchy as 2 certain main btc singles which is probably all you've heard... That's not what matters in this case. Staind have done the hardcore thing. It's well known that as bands evolve they tend to explore the more melodic and softer side of music, and this is a prime example. It's not that they get worse, they simply change. If you can't hack that, or can't keep up with it, well you've only failed yourself in that you can't learn to like something that others have no problem with. As a major Staind fan, I feel for what you're missing out on.

Moving along, I think this album is an awsome step in Aaron's progress as an emotional singer... we all knew he sung from the heart, what torment started, and what btc continued in an even better form, yet this album still manages to build up the emotional connection between the lyricist and the listener. The lyrics are clearer and deeper, not as cryptic or as murky (can't believe, suffer) and I truly think they're easier to reach for us fans.

And for that person who said that this album is soft ... well, you liked btc, didn't you? I bet you loved epiphany and outside, hell, even it's been a while was based on soft undertone melodies. I think it's wrong to dismiss the new soft songs so quickly simply because they expanded on a winnning formula... but oh well, those who don't like it won't like it, there will always be people like that.

Also it's obvious that the band worked incredibly hard on this release, they had so much to live up to... As a true fan of staind I respect their hard work and will stand by them, even when they do release a bad album.

Since the release of their sophomore effort (major-label debut) Dysfunction, Staind has shown the trend of losing heaviness in favor of more melody. This trend continued on Break the Cycle. Not surprisingly, 14 Shades of Grey is once again the most melodic, least heavy and newest Staind record to date.

Not to say that's a bad thing, in and of itself. The melodies, as always, are for the most part catchy and well-written. Voice-wise, Aaron Lewis is in top form on this record, and that alone makes it worth purchasing.

Perhaps the only exception is the track "Layne," obviously a tribute to the late Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley. Lewis tries to imitate the vocal harmonies of the defunct group, but his voice does not sound as haunting as Staley's when overdubbed on itself in the same fashion.

It is a well-done tribute in terms of evoking the memory of the AIC singer, but it does not fit with the rest of the CD. The rest of the CD is pretty homogenous, though, so perhaps it's good just for variety's sake.

The biggest negative aspect to the record is the lack of variety in song topics. Thankfully, the themes are not quite as oppressive as on previous releases-some tracks are actually about being OK psychologically-but the vast majority of the record is still dedicated to being depressed. Hopefully, on future releases, song topics will further diversify.

Another problem with 14 Shades of Grey is that Mike Mushok's guitar style is getting a bit clichéd: arpeggios for the soft, clean verses and sustained, distorted power/suspended chords for the louder but melodic choruses. Here and there, he still throws in a riff or an interesting two-guitar part, and his style serves as a good backdrop to the vocals, but perhaps more riffs or a solo here and there would be less predictable.

Essentially, Staind are beginning to settle into a routine on this record. It is a bit less heavy than Break the Cycle, but the themes and guitar style are basically unchanged. It is catchy and worth purchasing, but hopefully they will evolve in a new direction in the near future.

Staind has yet to let me down. This time they took a much softer approach to their music. Many people say it is too soft, but i think it is almost as good as Break the Cycle, but not quite. Here are some rankings for each of their songs.

1. Price to Play(5/5)- I heard this song on the radio and knew I had to pick up this CD

2. How About You(4/5)- This is a slower song that has a good beat and a good rythym so you can really get into this song

3.So Far Away(4/5)- This song was released and I was happy. It is a very good song.

4.Yesterday(4.5/5)- First song with cussing, but that makes it good.

5. Fray(4/5)- A all around good song

6. Sweet Zoe Jane(5/5)- First true slow song on the CD. It is a very good song that can be put on repeat and never get old

7. Fill Me UP(4/5)- a good song with good opening music.

8. Layne(3/5)- One of my least favorites on the CD

This is the best part of the CD. #9-14

9. Falling Down(5/5)- MY FAVORITE SONG ON THE CD...PERIOD

10. Reality(5/5)- This song is down right kick-@$$. The chourus is hard to imagine the lung capacity of Aaron Lewis. Try to sing it like he does.

11. Tonight(5/5)- Great song

12. Could It Be(5/5)- Great song about being youself. Sounds sappy but once you hear it you willchange your mind.

13. Blow Away(4/5)-Good song

14. Intro(5/5)- In this song Aaron thanks his family for putting up with him. He also critisizes people for underestimated his band. Does this title hint the next CD?

As a lot of their nu-metal counterparts were fading away in 2003 (see Limp Bizkit), Staind stepped up to the plate and hit a home run with the follow up to their extremely popular CD "Break the Cycle." "14 Shades of Grey" proved to be another commercial success for the quartet who hail from Massachusetts.

After the popularity of the successful power ballads, "Outside," "It's Been Awhile," and "Epiphany" from their previous release, Staind's first single off their 2003 album was a more heavier song entitled, "Price to Play." That garnered success on the rock charts, but failed to make an impact on top 40 radio, like "It's Been Awhile" and "Outside" did.

But one listen through the album, and you knew their were a few power ballads sitting their, just waiting to be introduced to the maintstream. Track 3, "So Far Away" was one of them. Following in the footsteps of "It's Been Awhile," the second single off this CD reached #1 on the rock and top 40 charts and kept Staind in the spotlight. The third single, "How About You" was very successful for the band as well.

With the addition of a new daughter (and I would assume the success of "Break the Cycle"), "14 Shades of Grey" has a more happier tone to it than the darker tones of the previous albums. "Zoe Jane" is a song written by Lewis to his daughter and "Intro" is a thank you message to all the people close to him. "Blow Away" is another excellent track that ranks toward the top of my all-time favorite Staind songs.

With label support and another world tour following the release of this CD, Staind proved to be a mainstay in the rock scene for at least a few more years--and made this fan look forward to another new Staind album in 2005.

How many bands have we seen that go on repeating the same stuff again and again.if a bands has a successful album, you are sure to find the same formula again in their next album.but STAIND are not that kind of a band.
The album is nothing like "Break the cycle".for a start it is much softer.but this is not a bad point.the album is really good.it showcases frontman aaron lewis's vocal ability and also lyrical ability.the guitar parts are very good(this is a distict ability exclusive to staind.even in a slow song like "zoe jane",they have a heavy riff for the chorus).the drumming is also good except in the track "reality"(it feels like the drummer forgot what he has to play).
Truly speeking this album is great.but if your expecting it to be as good as "break the cycle" then i can't make any promises."price to play","so far away","zoe jane","fill me up" and "falling down" are the best tracks in the album.
Even if the album is not as heavy as its predecessor,it's difference from it is remarkable and the courage of the band to go out of the way and make a totally different album is worth appreciating.

Aaron Lewis really hit the Jackpot this time. For anyone who has heard So Far Away or Price to Play there's no doubt that Lewis seems to be in a very reflective state of mind. He seems to enjoy using lyrics to display his most sincere and positive emotions. This is very refreshing and rejuvinating to some extent. Of course, Staind still brings the Heavy Punch in the gut sound that has made this band so infamous (the best example of this is Blow Away). This, combined with Lewis's very unique singing voice and a great baseline makes listening to this album a joy. Break the cycle should still be considered their best album but 14 shades of Grey comes in an incredibly close second. If you have the means, please buy this album. You will not regret it.

Right after created a great cd like "Break the Cycle" they go and make another awesome cd called "14 Shades of Grey." I thought this cd kicked a**. The lyrics and beat are incredible. Some of the songs I would reccomend are PRICE TO PLAY, HOW ABOUT YOU, and SO FAR AWAY. If you don't believe me, I believe you can listen to some of the tracks on the main page for 14 shades of grey. Check out some of the tracks I listed and I'M SURE YOU"LL LOVE STAIND'S MUSIC!!!!

its a must have cd. the songs say a lot about them self's by just hearing. i would think this is one the best Staind cd i ever got. love it

As many times as I've attempted to fall in love with this album, there are still only about 5 songs that I find listenable. Most of this disc just feels uninspired. It lacks the catchiness we've all come to expect. Those 5 songs still make it worth owning though. And that's why I gave it a 3 instead of a 2. When Staind gets it right, they really get it right. And the good tracks here are no exception. I know (from reading reviews here) that a lot of people don't share my opinion where this album is concerned. But in all honesty I do not see what others see in it that makes it a 4 or a 5 star release. Maybe you will. But I have yet to. And it's not for lack of trying.